The Stairway Fund is a private foundation established in 2005 and based in Chicago, Illinois. Located at 225 W Wacker Drive, Suite 2150, the organization operates as an independent foundation with a 501(c)(3) designation (EIN: 30-0286949).
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.2M
+41.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$597K
-8.5% YoY
Grant Count
69
+9.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
-16.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Stairway Fund reported a distributable amount of $162K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Stairway Fund primarily provides general operating support and annual gifts to various organizations. Its funding priorities include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Arts and creative organizations
Grantmaking
The foundation maintains an active grantmaking program with the following characteristics:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Stairway Fund's grantmaking focuses primarily on organizations in New York, Connecticut, and Missouri.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $3,214,223
- Total Revenues: $1,608,735
- Total Expenses: $551,435
- Number of Employees: 0
Funding Sources: The foundation received an endowment grant of $1,333,333 from the Irving Harris Foundation in 2024.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,214,223 | $2,266,623 | $2,845,178 |
| Revenue | $1,608,735 | $146,670 | $428,024 |
| Expenses | $551,435 | $514,619 | $990,747 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $599,170 | $658,634 | $688,845 |
| Net Investment Income | $219,112 | $130,947 | $155,260 |
| Distributable Amount | $162,450 | $118,855 | $148,300 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
242 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Museum of Modern Art - New York ($25,000), Madison Square Park Conservancy (mspc) ($23,000), Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 54 BELOW NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT/ANNUAL GIFT | $3,000 |
| 54 BELOW NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT/ANNUAL GIFT | $2,500 |
| AMERICAN ACADEMY IN ROME NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT/ANNUAL GIFT | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN INDEPENDENT FOUNDATION WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT/ANNUAL GIFT | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT/ANNUAL GIFT | $5,000 |
| BANTAM CINEMA & ARTS CENTER LITCHFIELD, CT | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT/ANNUAL GIFT | $2,500 |
| BROADWAY MALL ASSOCIATION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT/ANNUAL GIFT | $2,500 |
| BRONX OPERA COMPANY BRONX, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT/ANNUAL GIFT | $500 |
| BROOKLYN BOTANIC GARDEN BROOKLYN, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT/ANNUAL GIFT | $5,000 |
| BROOKLYN MUSEUM BROOKLYN, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT/ANNUAL GIFT | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUDREY H MEYER | SECRETARY / DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DANIEL H MEYER | PRESIDENT / DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MICHAEL MCQUINN | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| HALLIE LOUISE MEYER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LAUREN K MACDONALD | TREASURER | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Telephone: 312-621-0590
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Stairway Fund fund?
The Stairway Fund primarily provides general operating support and annual gifts to various organizations. Its funding priorities include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Arts and creative organizations
How do I apply for a grant from The Stairway Fund?
The foundation maintains an active grantmaking program with the following characteristics: **Grant Activity:** • Made 62 grants in 2024 • Total giving: $596,800 (2024) • Typical award range: $500–$150,000 **Recent Grants (2024):** • Theatre for A New Audience (TFANA): $35,000 (General Operating Support/Annual Gift) • Union Square Partnership: $25,000 (General Operating Support/Annual Gift) • Trinity College: $25,000 (General Operating Support/Annual Gift) The foundation does not currently list …
Where does The Stairway Fund make grants?
The Stairway Fund's grantmaking focuses primarily on organizations in New York, Connecticut, and Missouri.
What size grants does The Stairway Fund award?
In 2024, The Stairway Fund awarded 69 grants totaling $597K — an average of about $9K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Stairway Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Stairway Fund reported a distributable amount of $162K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Stairway Fund's EIN?
The Stairway Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 30-0286949. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Stairway Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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